Oxford United pull special shirts after founding-year design evokes 11 September tragedy

Oxford United have removed a batch of specially produced shirts from sale after their design was linked to the attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001.

The League One club used 1893, the year Oxford United were founded, as part of the design. That resulted in the wording “United 93” appearing on the shirts, intended to represent the club’s association with the year 1893.

However, “United 93” is also widely associated with one of the four aircraft hijacked during the 11 September attacks. That plane was turned into a weapon as part of the terrorist attacks.

Oxford United’s directors decided to withdraw the shirts because of the unintended association. The shirts had already been manufactured before the connection was recognised.